Everything You Need To Know About Pavé

One of the most requested styles in engagment rings today has been pavé diamonds, pronounced "pah-vay". The term comes from a French word, named for the style in which the jewels are set. Clustered very closely together, this style of stone setting gives the appearance of shiny and shimmering pavement. While these types of rings may appear to be more expensive than others due to their appearance, in actuality these are less costly because of the smaller stones used to create the glittering, "paved" effect.

Pavé rings are made from smaller diamond pieces that are set inside holes that are drilled into the band, or ring shank. Tiny metal prongs mold over each gem to hold it in place. When they are all set together, you see a beautiful continuous row of shimmer from every angle.

There are two different styles of pavé settings – a single band with one row and wide bands with several rows of stones. With a single row pavé, there is one row of diamonds that are all the same size and luster. The single band can be thin or wide, with a wide band accommodating larger gem pieces. The wide band with several rows may have the diamonds set at many different angles. Pavé diamond wedding bands that do not have a center stone are referred to as anniversary bands or eternity rings.

The most popular precious metal in pavé style is white gold or platinum. These two metals are often selected for this style of shank or band since the metal almost disappears visually against the diamonds. Pavé set diamonds are the perfect way to add a little extra sparkle to your favorite ring.